Ariadne’s notes: The World Poetry Café Radio Show with hosts Ariadne Sawyer and Israel Mota welcomed Kalpna Singh Chitnis, a talented poet, actress and filmmaker from California. Special welcoming music from her CD: Poetry In Paradox and background music from Empowered Musician, Rene Hugo Sanchez! LISTEN HERE for this special show!
Kalpna Singh Chitnis is a poet, filmmaker and actor – born in India, living in the United States. Educated at Magadh University Bodhgaya (India) and New York Film Academy, she began her career as a writer and lecturer of Political Science. She also worked as an actress and a model, before turning to film directing.
Kalpna’s published works include three poetry books in Hindi, a poetry collection “Bare Soul” in English, poetry album “Touched by the Devil” and others. Kalpna has been featured in many magazines and journals in Indian sub-continent and in the United States, such as Hans, Kadambini, Saaptahik Hindustan, Dhramyug, Pahal, Aajkal, Navbharat Times, Telegraph, Times of India, Deccan Herald, Millennium Post, Prairie Light Review, World Poetry, Femina, Care, OC Register, OC Weekly, Los Angeles Time, Daily Pilot and others for her film and literary works. She has also appeared in a number of radio and television shows such as ABC 7, Delhi Doordarshn, KPFK Radio, LA18, Care News, Aakashvani, Vancouver Co-op Radio, etc.
Her awards include the prestigious “Rajiv Gandhi Global Excellence Award” (2014), “Bihar Rajbhasha Award” given by the government of Bihar, India for her first poetry collection “Chand Ka Paivand” and the title of “Bihar Shree” (The Jewel of Bihar). Kalpna’s short film “Girl With An Accent” won the SMTV Silver Award in 2006 and her debut feature “Goodbye My Friend” has been officially selected at many international film festivals. Kalpna who is also the founder and director of the “Silent River” Film Festival, is currently working on her short film “Dancing In The Rain” based on a true story, to bring awareness about the Honor Killing issue prevalent in Indian subcontinent, Mid-East and in many other parts of the world .
Websites – Personal – www.kalpnasinghchitnis.com
Festival Website – www.silentriverfilmfestival.com
JUNGLE GREETINGS
Let’s bare,
and bask in the beauty of the jungle.
Let’s throw away our covers.
We ‘ve had enough of them!
In the jungle, there is no need to pretend,
let’s just be, who we are.
Let’s be the lions, eagles, wolves, hyenas,
deers, doves, deities or serpents,
if that’s what we are…
Or let’s be the trees, hills, rocks, dunes
or fallen leaves on a winding trail.
Let’s search for a stream,
celebrating our thirst…
Let’s glow in our skin,
in the darkness and light,
let’s dazzle,
when the sun plays hide and seek,
let’s bare our soul,
and keep the sacredness of the jungle,
let’s discover now,
our wild inner beauty!*
(A POEM FROM POETRY COLLECTION “BARE SOUL” BY KALPNA SINGH-CHITNIS)
“Bare Soul” is the fourth poetry collection by Kalpna Singh-Chitnis.
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